For the first time, the European Space Agency has taken center stage in a science fiction video game. In collaboration with a French studio, the agency helped create Aphelion—an adventure game about exploring a fictional ninth planet in the solar system, based on real scientific knowledge.
Mission to the edge of the system
The game was released on April 28, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Players take on the roles of European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross, who are exploring the fictional planet Persephone on the outer edge of the solar system as part of the Hope-01 mission.
This is the first time a video game’s storyline has been built around a real organization and depicts the work of its astronauts in realistic conditions. Scientists, engineers, and ESA astronauts were directly involved in the development process, providing advice on physics, units of measurement, scientific terminology, instruments, and even sound design.
More than just a game
The project goes beyond the screen. A fictional page for the Hope-01 mission has appeared on the ESA website, and a special patch has been designed for it—just like for real missions.
The goal is not simply to create an atmosphere, but to evoke the feeling of genuine space exploration that resonates with the agency’s actual missions.
Further activities are planned to strengthen the connection between artistic vision and the realities of space exploration.
A new language for space science
According to Oskar Guilbert, CEO of the French studio DON’T NOD Entertainment, the collaboration with ESA is further proof that video games can push the boundaries of science fiction while reflecting our reality.
For its part, the agency views Aphelion as a tool for attracting a new audience and supporting recruitment efforts—ESA plans to announce more than 400 job openings in 2026. The project also addresses topics such as space exploration, climate change, and sustainable development—in line with ESA’s Strategy to 2040.
According to esa.int
